The Endocrine system

Glands and hormones

• Hormones- chemical messengers carried by blood- – May stimulate other

glands– Regulate growth,

development, metabolism, sex processes

• Hormones need a specific receptor on a specific cell to do their job

• Major Glands of the Endocrine system

• Pituitary

• Thyroid

• Parathyroid

• Adrenal.

• Pancreas

• Ovaries

• Testes

Pituitary gland• Master gland of body

• Located in the depression of sphenoid bone

• Produces many hormones that affect other glands– thyroid stimulating hormone– Somatotropin- growth hormone– Lutenizing (LH)- causes ovulation– ICSH- causes testes to secrete testosterone– Melanocyte stimulating- distribution of melanin in

skin– ADH- antidiuretic hormone

• Giantism- oversecretion of somatotropin before puberty

• Dwarfism- undersecretion of somatotropin. Cause: tumor, injury, infection, genetics

• Diabetes insipidus- decreased ADH

• Thyroid- produces hormones that control metabolism and calcium in blood.

• Thyroid gland must have any source of iodine

– goiter- not enough iodine

– hyperthyroidism– hypothyroidism

• Adrenal glands• Located just above

the kidney• Secretes many

hormones• Epinephrine • Norepinephrine• Many steroid

hormones, inc estrogen and androgens.

• Pancreas- • pancreatic juices into

the intestine• secretes insulin, a

hormone that transports glucose into cells.

• Also secretes glucagon- increases glucose in bloodstream

• Diabetes Mellitus-• Cause- decreased secretion of insulin• Symptoms

– Excessive thirst, excessive urination, hyperglycemia, slow healing of skin infections

– Affects 21 million in US: 7% of population– Estimated 1/3 of people who have diabetes

don’t know it– 225,000 die each year– 132 billion/year- 10% of our health care

spending

• Insulin was the first hormone identified (late 1920's) which won the doctor and medical student who discovered it the Nobel Prize (Banting and Best)

• 1982 - Human Insulin - First ever approved genetically engineered human therapeutic by Genentech

• In May 1960, the FDA approved the sale of a pill that arguably would have a greater impact on Americans than any other drug in the nation's history.

• For women across the country, the contraceptive pill was liberating: it allowed them to pursue careers, fueled the feminist and pro-choice movements and encouraged more open attitudes towards sex.

• Estrogen in pill suppresses FSH in pituitary- ovulation does not occur